Charging blast furnaces



Batenteel Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES ROLAND CHARLES HARDING, or sTcxnon-Tamv r, ENGLAND.

CHARGING BLAST FURNACES.

Application filed, February 5, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLAND CHARLES HARDING, a British subject, residing at The Old Rectory, Norton-in-the-llioors, Stokeon-Trent, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charging Blast Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to charging blast furnaces. More particularly it relates to top charging arrangements of the bucket type of which examples are known as Neeland and Pohlig types.

It is well-known that with this type the charge is evenly distributed with the proportions of lump and fine material equally proportioned in each sector of the furnace. Such distribution is generally in annular rings or zones with a tendency, when properly designed, to place the finer material to the outside of the circle and the coarser towards the centre.

The objectof the present invention is to improve the distribution of the charge particularly by distributing it from the bucket into heaps on the main bell, the heaps being evenly distributed round the circle. It is, of course, usual in many forms of skip hoist to deposit one skip full at a time in a heap alternatively in several positions on the hell, but according to my invention I provide means for depositing the whole charge from the bucket on the main bell of a blast furnace in a number of simultaneously formed heaps. In its preferred embodiment the bucket or the hopper orthe vertical rod supporting a bell is provided with vanes or equivalent means adapted to separate the charge and place it on the main bell in heaps while maintaining its distribution even round the circle.

Such vanes are preferably vertical and radial and may extend outwardly from the centre or inwardly from the periphery, but they may be arranged in any convenient way and may be straight or spiral or otherwise curved and may be parallel or taper in section.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the charging arrangement in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bucket.

As shown the filling bucket 1 supported on the bell bottom 2 is in position on its Serial No. 617,055.

seating at the furnace top. Thevertical rod '3 attached to the bell bottom 2: is adapted to be supported by a truck l running on the' inclined hoist indicated by 5, all as in well known arrangements. The usual main bell 6 is shown supported by a lever 7 and the usual gas seal bell 8 may also be provided. Vanes 9, 9 extending practically the full height of the bucket are shown extending radially inwards to within a short distance of the rod 8.

In operation the bucket is filled as evenly as possible, the stock being preferably caused to impinge upon the centre of the cone and distribute itself between the vanes, and when the bell 2 is lowered away from the bucket the charge is divided into an equivalent number of heaps upon the main bell, from which it is discharged into the furnace.

ell-known methods for rotating the bucket or presenting successive buckets at different angles either when they are being filled or before the delivery of the charge may be employed in conjunction with the above apparatus. It is to be noted, that the distribution in heaps enables lumps of coarser material to roll down into the depressions between the heaps, affording approximately radial lines of coarser material which tend to improve the ventilation without upsetting the substantially even distribution of the charge round the circle. It will further be noted that the apparatus described is a practical embodiment of means to deposit the charge on the main bell in simultaneously formed heaps.

1. Blast furnace charging apparatus of the bucket type including acharging bucket provided with a bell bottom and a main bell in combination with means carried by the bucket to distribute the charge in heaps on the main bell from the bucket.

52. Blast furnace charging apparatus of the bucket type including a charging bucket with a bell bottom and a main bell in combination with inwardly projecting vanes in the bucket to distribute the charge on the said main bell of the furnace, substantially as described.

3. Blast furnace charging apparatus of the bucket type, including a main bell and a bell-bottomed charging bucket, the said bucket having vanes of substantially the full height of the bucket in order to dis tribute the charge into evenly distributed heaps on the main bell for the purpose described.

4. Blast furnace charging apparatus including a hopper and a charging bucket adapted to convey a hopper charge over the hopper and vanes in the bucket to divide each complete bucket charge into at least three fractional parts.

5. In combination a blast furnace charging bucket, a bell bottom adapted to support said bucket, a Vertical rod carrying said bottom and extending up through said bucket, the said bucket being provided with vanes projecting inwards from the peripheryi to within a short distance of the said IOC 6. A blast furnace charging bucket provided with vanes extending substantially from the periphery to the centre and from the top to the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROLAND CHARLES HARDING. 

